Lighting fixture clamping device

ABSTRACT

A two-section clamping device useful for mounting lighting fixtures from suspended T-bar structure, the said clamping device being constructed in such a manner so as to lend ease of installation, and also furnish stabilizing means to the mounted lighting fixture.

United States Patent Inventors William W. Ramsey 6723 S. 72nd East Ave.,74033; Robert Dale Flora, 745 S. 85th East Ave.,

Tulsa, Okla. 74012 AppL No. 829,194 Filed June 2, 1969 Patented Jan. 19,1971 LIGHTING FIXTURE CLAMPING DEVICE 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 248/228, 52/28, 52/484 Int. Cl F2ls 1/02 Field of Search 248/72,

214, 215, 226.4, 228, 300, 316.4, 317, 343; 52/28, 484; 240/78CF, 85A,85E

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,944,781 7/1960 Masters248/228 2,954,200 9/1960 Gannon et a1. 248/228 2,961,269 11/1960 Renfroe248/228 Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier Assistant Examiner-William H,Schultz AttqrneyR. E. Zimmerman ABSTRACT: A twosection clamping deviceuseful for mounting lighting fixtures from suspended T-bar structure,the said clamping device being constructed in such a manner so as tolend ease of installation, and also furnish stabilizing means to themounted lighting fixture.

PATENTEUJANISIBYI 3,556,452

INVENTORS. 9 WILLIAM W RAMSEY ROBERT DALE FLORA ATTORNEY LIGHTINGFIXTURE CLAMPING DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The lighting industry hashad a need for stabilizing means to mount commercial lighting fixturesfrom suspended T-bars. In the past, the means used for mounting thesecommercial lighting fixtures from suspended T-bars has required tediousinstallation and has only furnished poor'lighting fixture stability. Wehave invented a two-section clamping device with SUMMARY OF INVENTIONThe object of this invention is to furnish a clamping device to mountcommercial lighting fixtures easily on suspended T- bar constructionfound in commercial lighting installations.

Another object of this invention is to furnish stabilizing means formounted commercial lighting fixtures.

Still another object of this invention is to 'fumish a clamping devicewith features for quick and easy installation of commercial lightingfixtures.

For a complete understanding of the nature and objects of thisinvention, reference should be made to the drawings and the detaileddescription which follows.

FIG. I is an isometric drawing portraying the two-section clampingdevice.

FIG. 2 illustrates the two-section clamping device as a connectorbetween a T-bar and a commercial lighting fixture.

Reference is made to FIG. I which portrays the features of constructionof the lighting fixture clamping device. The type of material used isnot critical, the only requirement being that the clamping device befabricated from material having sufficient strength to support thelighting fixtures on the T-bars. For example, materials suitable for useare steel alloyed aluminum or plastics which have sufiicient strength tosupport the particular lighting fixture being mounted.

The structure of the clamping device is described as consisting of apair of complimentary members 1 and 2, FIG. I, placed in juxtapositionto each other. The members are formed from suitable flat surfacematerial such as has been previously described shaped so that each ofthe two members I and 2, FIG. I, are assembled as shown in FIG. I. Theupper extremities of the surfaces of the complimentary members I and 2,FIG. I, are bent inwardly at a convenient angle to form 5 form lowerparallel surfaces 4 and 5, FIG. 1. A screw 3, FIG.

I, is positioned to pass through the lower parallel surface of one ofthe members into a tapped hole in the lower parallel surface of thesecond member. The reshaped lower parallel surfaces of both members arebent outwardly to form approximate right angles in such a manner so thateach of the surfaces 6 and 7, FIG. 1, formed rest against the upper flatsurface of the lighting fixture 9, FIG. 2. A wingnut and screw assemblyI0, FIG. 1, are spot welded to one of the members of the clampingdevice.

I Reference is made to FIG. 2 which shows the clamping device in aconnecting position between the T-bar and the top surface of acommercial lighting fixture. To install the clamping device, placeclamping members I and 2, FIG. I, so that the lower side of the uppersurfaces of the clamping device rest on the upper surface of the T-bar8, FIG. 2. When the clamping device is in this position, screw 3 FIG. 1,is tightened so that the clamping device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 istightly secured to the T-bar. The lighting fixture 9, FIG. 2, isconnected to the clamping device and held in position by the screw andwingnut, assembl 10, .FIG. 1. The number of clamping devices requiredwil depend on the size of the commercial lighting fixture; usually onlytwo are required to give stability to the fixture.

We claim:

I. A clamping device consisting of two complimentary members:

a. the upper section of each of the surfaces of the said complimentarymembers being bent inwardly to form first and second angles;

b. the said surfaces in the lower extremities of the said complimentarymembers each being bent inwardly toward each other and reshaped to formapproximate parallel surfaces in which a connecting means is inserted;

c. the said reshaped approximate parallel surfaces, each being bentoutwardly to form a third and founh angle;

d. the said complimentary members being connected together by the saidconnecting means;

e. the said connecting means passing through one member into a tappedhole of a second member;

f. the said complimentary members being positioned together so that thesaid first and second angle face each other and the said third andfourth angle face outwardly from each other; and

g. support means extending from one of said members.

1. A clamping device consisting of two complimentary members: a. theupper section of each of the surfaces of the said complimentary membersbeing bent inwardly to form first and second angles; and b. the saidsurfaces in the lower extremities of the said complimentary members eachbeing bent inwardly toward each other and reshaped to form approximateparallel surfaces in which a connecting means is inserted; c. the saidreshaped approximate parallel surfaces, each being bent outwardly toform a third and fourth angle; d. the said complimentary members beingconnected together by the said connecting means; e. the said connectingmeans passing through one member into a tapped hole of a second member;f. the said complimentary members being positioned together so that thesaid first and second angle face each other and the said third andfourth angle face outwardly from each other; and g. support meansextending from one of said members.